Who We Are

Founded in 1999, The Better World Group is a recognized leader in political and environmental strategy, regulatory policy development and advocacy,  communications planning and execution, and coalition building and management. A certified MBE/WBE and DBE, we specialize in strategic positioning, constituency building, public relations, policy analysis, media relations, and event planning. Historically we have focused on air quality, climate change, advanced transportation, clean energy technologies, livable communities and other leading environmental policy issues. Our team has the capacity to work on any issue that requires strategic thinking, political savvy and media acumen. We utilize our extensive network of policy makers and political leaders – at all levels of government – to advance our clients’ initiatives.

Additionally, we work closely with various sectors of the entertainment industry in generating support for environmental programs and policies. And our staff has expertise in the legal rules governing, and practical implementation of, foundation and nonprofit public policy and advocacy.

The Better World Group has offices in Burbank, Silicon Valley, and Sacramento.

Better World Group – Southern California

	Wendy James, President & CEO (Full Bio) Expertise: Strategic framing of environmental strategies; extensive knowledge of global warming and clean air policy issues; coalition management; complex public policy issue shaping; media relations and communications strategy; relationship-building with elected officials; and highly regarded political acumen.
	Sharon Wrathall, CFO (Full Bio) Expertise: Event planning and implementation; extensive graphics and design experience; project management; contract negotiation; database creation and management; direct mail advertising and design; in-depth computer experience on a variety of platforms; and budget/financial management.
	Sam Emmersen, Vice President, Programs (Full Bio) Expertise: Conducting research and writing analytical reports; monitoring legislative and regulatory activities; wide-ranging knowledge of clean fuels technologies; programs/events management; creating/managing databases; and certified LEED 2.0 Professional.
	Ruben Aronin, Vice President, Outreach & Communications (Full Bio) Expertise: Strategic communications, marketing, and media/public relations; policy advocacy; corporate and government relations; website, newsletter and email campaigns; event management and production; strategic planning and project implementation; relationships with celebrity and high-profile spokespeople.

Better World Group – Northern California

Susan Frank, Executive Vice President (Full Bio) Expertise: Public policy development/analysis at all levels of government; experience working on global warming and clean air policy issues; coalition building and management; meeting/workshop facilitation; nonprofit management; and extensive knowledge of rules governing nonprofit and foundation lobbying/advocacy.

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Better World Group – Southern California

Wendy James
President & CEO

Wendy James is President & CEO of The Better World Group, which she founded in 1999, and directs all operations from the company’s Burbank, California office.

Over the past 30 years, James has developed unique expertise in the media, government, corporate and nonprofit sectors, with a special focus on environmental issues. She works with environmental and environmental justice groups, government organizations and progressive businesses in framing their environmental strategies and implementing advocacy campaigns in support of a wide array of policies and projects.

Prior to forming The Better World Group, Wendy served as President of the nonprofit Environmental Media Association (EMA), working closely with the entertainment industry to support various environmental initiatives. While at EMA, she launched a program focusing on the operations and production side of the entertainment industry, harnessing the industry’s purchasing power and high visibility to broaden support for environmental products and practices. Wendy’s experience in energy and the environment includes both natural gas and electric technologies. She was on the forefront of advanced transportation initiatives, heading up Southern California Edison’s Electric Transportation Division, and led the natural gas industry’s environmental outreach at the American Gas Association in Washington, D.C.

Prior to her work in the environmental field, Wendy served as press secretary for former U.S. Representative Robert W. Davis (R-Michigan) and served that same role while Davis was Minority Leader of the Michigan Senate. She came to the state capital at the request of Michigan’s Governor, who selected her to create and direct a statewide youth highway safety program. She began her professional career as a reporter and weekly columnist for The Evening News, a daily newspaper in Northern Michigan.

Wendy currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the California State Parks Foundation where she chairs the Government Relations Committee and serves on the Executive Committee of the Board. For 15 years, she has served on the Board of Advisors for the Institute for Transportation Studies at the University of California-Davis. Wendy recently completed over a decade of service on the Board of Directors for the California League of Conservation Voters (CLCV) where she served as Vice Chair, and also recently concluded eight years, including service as chair and vice chair, on the Board of Burbank Water & Power, a municipal utility serving more than 50,000 customers. She was selected by the Burbank Chamber of Commerce to represent the organization on the city’s Sustainability Commission. Among her accolades, Wendy was honored by CLCV in 2011 with an Environmental Leadership Award, recognized by the Coalition for Clean Air in 2009 with a Ralph B. Perry III Lifetime Achievement Award, honored by the California Climate Action Registry in 2008, and named Small Business Woman of the Year for California’s 20th Senate District and 43rd and 44th Assembly Districts in 2006.

Wendy has a B.A. degree in Journalism from Michigan State University, with minors in Political Science and Economics. She is accredited in public relations by the Public Relations Society of America and is a member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. > BACK TO TOP

Sharon Wrathall
CFO

Sharon L. Wrathall is CFO of The Better World Group and is responsible for all financial, information technology and administrative operations, as well as directing all of the graphics/design and event planning projects for the company. She was The Better World Group’s first employee hired, joining in 2000, and is based in the Burbank, California, office.

With over 20 years of management, financial and operational experience – in both large corporate settings and small business operations – Sharon has developed expertise in the areas of project management, contract negotiation and administration, event planning and implementation, budget forecasting, as well as oversight, coordination and training of administrative support personnel.

She has extensive graphic design experience with a portfolio of work that includes brochures, flyers, newsletters and e-newsletters, fact sheets, event invitations and programs, newspaper advertisements, training materials, PowerPoint presentations, campaign ads/materials, and full-color illustrated comprehensive reports. In addition, she has vast knowledge of database management and direct mail advertising and design.

Sharon has in-depth knowledge of various computer platforms and applications including QuarkXpress, Adobe InDesign, Microsoft Publisher (graphic layout programs); Microsoft Word, Excel; QuickBooks Pro; FileMaker Pro, FilePro Plus and Microsoft Access (database programs); and Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Acrobat and PowerPoint.  > BACK TO TOP

Samara (Sam) Emmersen
Vice President, Programs

As Vice President, Programs, Sam Emmersen has day-to-day responsibility for a variety of the firm’s projects as well as conducting research and writing reports to support a number of client activities. She joined The Better World Group in 2001 and is based in the company’s Burbank, California, office.

Sam researches and writes the monthly Clean Transportation Policy Update, tracking legislation and key administrative activities affecting transportation and alternative fuels in California, as well as a quarterly newsletter exploring similar issues. Other research projects have included summarizing the U.S. Supreme Court majority opinion and dissenting opinions on the EPA's authority to regulate global warming pollution, memoranda on the benefits and drawbacks of using biodiesel and ultra-low sulfur diesel in fleet vehicles and an overview of current emissions control technology with the use of these fuels. 

Sam handled all of the day-to-day management for the company’s multi-year Playgrounds for Preschoolers and Hollywood Recycles projects, working with clients, conducting outreach, directing media, coordinating events and materials development. She provides the primary interface with the client and project partners/grant recipients for the firm’s work with the Clean Transportation Funding program of the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee. She created and maintains environmental media databases including a database of more than 5,000 names of Southern California policy makers, including all elected officials and the heads of city and county departments.

Sam holds a Juris Doctor degree from Whittier Law School and a LL.M. in Law and Marine Affairs from the University of Washington. She also is accredited by the United States Green Building Council as a LEED 2.0 Professional (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). > BACK TO TOP

Ruben Aronin
Vice President, Outreach & Communications

Ruben Aronin joined The Better World Group in April 2012 as Vice President, Outreach & Communications, and is responsible for client and partner outreach as well as marketing, communications and public relations. 

Ruben brings two decades of experience in creating, managing and implementing highly visible and effective environmental marketing, fundraising and policy initiatives to promote energy-efficiency and renewable energy; clean transportation; green cities, schools and neighborhoods; and smart climate solutions for low-income communities. He has secured and managed major corporate sponsorship programs from leading companies promoting environmental initiatives including Starbucks, Chevy Volt, Lincoln MKZ Hybrid, Sprint, Yahoo!, Office Depot, L’Oreal, Planters, LA Car Guy, and more.

Prior to joining Better World Group, Ruben served as the Director of Communications and Donor Relations for Global Green USA, the American arm of President Gorbachev’s Green Cross International. For over seven years at Global Green, he was responsible for overseeing strategic messaging initiatives and corporate sponsorships for the organization and all of its high-profile events and campaigns including its national green school initiative and its “Red Carpet/Green Cars” Academy Awards Campaign. In addition, Ruben was instrumental in creating and implementing Global Green’s sustainable rebuilding efforts in New Orleans post Katrina, recognized by TIME magazine as doing more than any other organization to rebuild a sustainable city.

Before Global Green, Ruben ran the Earth Communications Office (ECO), a Hollywood-based national nonprofit organization. For over 10 years, he oversaw the production and distribution of more than a dozen international communications campaigns including movie trailers, and television, radio and print PSAs seen by over a billion people worldwide. In addition, he led celebrity delegations for press events at the United Nations, Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, and on Capitol Hill.

In 2010, Ruben was selected as 1 of 5 global winners of the Outstanding Young Person (TOYP) awards selected by the Osaka Junior Chamber of Commerce and had the opportunity to share his work with the Crown Prince of Japan. He has served on the national steering committee of the Apollo Alliance, the Board of ECO India and Advocacy Arts, and the Advisory Boards of LOHAS and Ciceana. Prior to his environmental work, Ruben worked for President Clinton’s Inaugural celebration and for Congressman Christopher Shays (R-CT).

Ruben has a B.A. in Political Science in European History, Cum Laude, from the University of Pennsylvania. > BACK TO TOP

Better World Group – Northern California

Susan Frank
Executive Vice President

Susan joined The Better World Group in January 2008 as Executive Vice President and is based in the company’s Silicon Valley office in Mountain View, California.

Susan is known statewide for her expertise in public policy development, coalition management, and nonprofit lobbying/advocacy having served as CEO and in several senior-level roles in nonprofit organizations over the last 20 years. Her current project work includes coordinating environmental and consumer organizations across seven western states and four Canadian provinces engaged in the Western Climate Initiative process. She is coordinating a large alliance of businesses and business associations across the state who support California’s clean energy policies. She provides air quality policy advice to a large California transportation agency as well as to a number of regional and statewide environmental organizations and coalitions. She is also advising Silicon Valley Community Foundation as it develops and implements a variety of programs to engage in public policy advocacy and grantmaking. 

From 1999 to 2007, Susan served in a variety of roles for the Bay Area-based Steven and Michele Kirsch Foundation including as President & CEO and Vice President, Public Policy. As chief executive, she was responsible for the organization's strategic planning, budget planning and development, staff management, external relations, and public policy/advocacy. In terms of advocacy, she represented the Foundation on legislative and regulatory activities at all levels of government. Her primary policy focus was advocating for improved air quality in California's San Joaquin Valley. She also developed extensive knowledge and experience working on global warming, clean vehicles, and pesticide issues.

Prior to joining the Kirsch Foundation, Susan served as President & CEO of the Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce in Palo Alto, California, for eight years. In addition to being the organization's chief executive, she was integrally involved in developing chamber policy and legislative positions on a variety of issues including regional transportation concerns, land use issues, and environmental health and safety. 

Susan has been a member of the Board of Directors for the California League of Conservation Voters (CLCV) since November 2005, and currently serves as Vice Chair. In January 2012, she was appointed to the Board of Directors for the U.S. Green Building Council - Northern California Chapter, and she also serves on the Board of Advisors for the Green Chamber of Commerce in California, which has chapters across the U.S. Previously, she served on the Board of Directors for the Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research (2001-2007) and Coalition for Clean Air (2001-2005), as well as participating on a variety of other local, nonprofit boards of directors.

Susan was recognized as a 2011 Women of Influence in Silicon Valley by the Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal. In 2010, the YWCA of Silicon Valley awarded Susan a Tribute to Women (TWIN) Award, which honors the region’s executive women. And in 2009, she was recognized by Breathe California for her management of a statewide coalition of environmental, public health and environmental justice advocates that successfully campaigned for a strong diesel truck and bus pollution regulation.

Susan has a B.A. in English from Stanford University.

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